Wheal Martyn

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Discover Cornwall's secret at the UK's only china clay mining museum.
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Set in 26 acres of woodland and amongst the remains of a Victorian china clay works nestled in the historic Ruddle Valley Wheal Martyn provides a fascinating day of discovery and adventure for everyone

16/10/2026

It's open 🤩

The final touches to our new exhibition have been completed and it is now open to the public!

Come see Terrye Teverson's exploration into the arsenic trade in Cornwall, blending traditional and contemporary mediums to create an immersive experience.

The exhibition Arsenic: What Price Beauty? is open until the 22 December, 10am to 4pm everyday.

Plan your visit: https://www.wheal-martyn.com/Event/arsenic-what-price-beauty

15/10/2026

This week's photo is of the clay store at Cliffe Vale, Stoke-on-Trent. 🏭

Come back next week for more!

14/10/2026

Introducing our next music night 🤩

Join us on Thursday 5 November to see Dalla Duo!

Dalla Duo offer a celebration of the very best of Cornish traditional music in all its varied glory, from wild and mesmerising dance tunes to beautifully haunting slower pieces. This includes instrumentals on bouzouki and clarinet, as well as songs in Cornish and in English.

Often referred to as 'Cornish traditional music royalty', Neil Davey and Hilary Coleman are individually very well known to anyone familiar with Cornish music having both played an integral part in the great revival of this genre seen over recent decades. They were co-founders of the 'nos lowen' approach to Cornish dance and music, and are probably best known for being the two original founding members of the internationally acclaimed pioneering Cornish music group Dalla, and also continue to play together in the hugely popular nos lowen dance band Skillywidden which grew out of Dalla.

Tickets from £6. Doors open at 6.30pm.

Visit our website to book: https://www.wheal-martyn.com/Event/dalla-duo-cornish-music-night

13/10/2026

👀 Spooky Eye Spy Trail 👀

Join us during October half term for a spooky trail through the grounds at Wheal Martyn. Discover the all the mysterious eyes lurking around the woodland and match them to the spooky faces on your worksheet.

Experience the grounds of the museum like you never have before from the 24 October. 👻

No booking required, take part during your visit – information provided at admissions desk. Open 10am to 4pm until 2 November.

Price: Included within the general admission fee

12/10/2026

It's not too late to get your tickets for our W**e and Wisdom Quiz night this Thursday! 🍷🍾

Enjoy a fun evening with friends, family or work colleagues and show off your knowledge, whilst supporting Wheal Martyn Trust to raise funds to support its charitable work.

Teams of up to six people can register for only £10.00 per person. First glass of w**e and nibbles will be provided on your tables and the bar will be open!

Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start

Book now: https://www.wheal-martyn.com/Event/w**e-wisdom-fundraising-evening-15-oct-26

09/10/2026

Introducing our new exhibition opening next Friday (16 October), Arsenic: What Price Beauty?

This exhibition investigates the arsenic trade in Cornwall, blending traditional and contemporary mediums to create immersive experiences that challenge viewers to confront the desire for ‘beautiful’ objects and contemplate the means of production.

The artist, Terrye Teverson, is a contemporary Cornish fine artist, digital printmaker and sculptor whose multidisciplinary practice bridges historical narrative and contemporary critique.

The exxhibition will be open 10am to 4pm every day until the 22 December. Price included in standard museum admission. 🎟

08/10/2026

For this week's post we are sharing an image of Old Pound pit in 1985. ⛏

Come back for more soon!

07/10/2026

Half term at Wheal Martyn 🤸‍♀️

We have loads of new workshops and activities to keep the kids entertained over the break!

👻 Spooks and Spirits Creative Activities - Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October
Make a spooky face or nature spirit out of clay, beads and natural fallen materials from our woodlands. You could also decorate a tile with a spooky scene or paint a Halloween or autumn ceramic decoration.

🖌 Pottery Painting for All - Thursday 29 October, 11am to 3pm
Pop in and join us for a pottery painting session. There will be a choice of items for children and adults to paint ranging from ornaments to dinnerware.

🏺Pinch Pot Making Workshop - Saturday 31 October, 10am to 12pm
Come along and have a go at making a pinch pot. This workshop is great if you are wanting to try out pottery because it is a simple yet effective way to make a beautiful pot.

Visit our website for more information: https://www.wheal-martyn.com/Pages/Events/Category/events-listing

06/10/2026

It's your last chance to see our exhibition And Everything And Nothing Has Changed. ⏳

Closing on Thursday 8 October, come see the amazing work by artist Robin James Sullivan before it leaves Wheal Martyn!

And Everything And Nothing Has Changed (2021) was an ambitious public arts and heritage project by Robin James Sullivan that explored how landscapes hold memory and change. Developed across Cornwall’s China Clay Country, the project brought together over 450 participants through workshops, conversations, field trips and creative events.

🎟 Price included in standard museum admission.

Hurry before it's too late!

05/10/2026

Visitors please be aware we will be hosting a large event at Wheal Martyn over the next two days (Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 October).

We are looking forward to the Inspiring Futures STEM Fair, with many schools attending from our local community. 🔬🚌

Our museum and grounds will be open as usual, but the site will be busy up until 2.30pm on both days and parking will be affected.

The Inspiring Futures STEM Fair is part of our Engagement Project Offer through our Fixing Our Broken Planet programme, in partnership with the Natural History Museum, London. We are grateful to the organisations for supporting this event, including the Natural History Museum, Cornish Lithium, Imerys Ltd, Minerals Matter, Geothermal Engineering Limited and the University of Exeter: Camborne School of Mines.

Address

Wheal Martyn, Carthew, Street Austell
Saint Austell
PL268XG

Telephone

+441726850362

Website

https://www.wheal-martyn.com/

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